CHAPTER IV.
THE CHALLENGE.
Captain Vernon was one of the most uneasy men living.
He could not keep still.
Action was the watchword of his life.
He was a handsome man, young--that is, he had not reached his fortiethyear--straight as an arrow, with firmness imprinted on every feature.
He could not have lived on a slow boat. He would have gone crazy.
Had he been on a man-of-war crawling along at two knots an hour, hewould most likely have deserted.
On the _Lively Bee_ he was the most active man.
He owned the vessel, and was proud of it.
When there was a rumor of war, he hurried to Washington and applied fora _lettre de marque_.
For those of our readers who do not understand the expression, weexplain that a letter of marque gave permission to the owner of aprivate vessel to make war on another nation. Without this letter ofauthority, such war would be piracy. All nations, at the time of thewar of 1812, issued letters of marque, and recognized the privateersas belligerents, often however ignoring the authority in the case ofprisoners, and hanging the officers as pirates.
Captain Vernon had two objects to serve in his war on the English. Hehated the British, and he wanted to enrich himself by prize money.
The _Lively Bee_ was outside Sandy Hook, and was making nearly fiveknots an hour.
Every man on board had to work at racehorse speed, for the captain wasalways on the alert. Everything and everybody about him must be thefastest and best possible.
Although the war ships had started almost as soon as the privateer,they were nowhere in sight.
"Sail ho!"
The alarm was given by Scarron.
"Whereaway?"
"I see it, captain," said Tempest, pointing to a white speck on thehorizon.
The captain took the glass and looked long and earnestly in thedirection.
"She is in cruising canvas only. Most probably a merchantman," he said,as he handed the glass to Tempest.
"No, captain, she is a war ship, and British at that."
"Think so?"
"I'll bet my last dollar she's British, but she's too big for us totackle."
Tempest paced the deck uneasily.
Here was a British war ship almost within fighting distance, and shewas to be allowed to escape.
"Captain, a word with you."
"What is it, Tempest?"
"Have you a long-range gun on board?"
"A thirty-four pounder. Why?"
"Because I would like to draw closer to that Britisher and give her ashot."
"Is not that a dangerous game?"
"It is a risk. I think she only carries light-weight guns, perhapstwelve-pounders."
"Why do you think so?"
"Instinct. But apart from that feeling, you will find she is aFrench-rigged frigate, and they seldom carry anything above atwelve-pounder."
"You can take the risk if you like, Tempest."
"May I?"
"Yes, but you will be responsible for the _Lively Bee_."
It was a terrible responsibility for the young man to take, but therewas something about him which inspired confidence, and Captain Vernonwanted to see of what mettle the man was made.
Orders were given, and the little schooner sailed direct for the bigwars-man.
"Captain, we are within gunshot distance. What shall we do?"
Vernon walked aft, saying as he did so:
"You took the responsibility; do the best you can."
"Very well, captain."
On went the schooner until it was so close that the big Britisherseemed to shut out all view of the horizon.
"Scarron! we are going to beat to quarters."
"Sir! Mr. Tempest, sir!"
"I said we were going to beat to quarters. Have you any objections?"
"Seems to me we'll die within sight of New York anyway," mutteredScarron.
"Very likely," Tempest calmly replied. "All the same, we shall fightthat vessel."
Instead of waiting for Scarron to give the order to the drummer,Tempest did it himself.
No sooner had the roll of the drum been wafted across the waters thanthere was a change manifest in the attitude of the cruiser.
The crew were now on the alert, and an answering roll of the drum toldthe little schooner that the Britisher accepted the challenge.
It was perfectly safe to do so.
What chance had a little privateer against a trim, well-built warcruiser?
Tempest had the long gun loaded, and he took sight himself.
The Britisher ran up the Union Jack as a defiance, an act answered bythe raising of the Stars and Stripes.
No one on board the cruiser had any idea that the privateer could carryso heavy a gun as a thirty-four-pounder.
The gun was ready, the match applied.
The _Lively Bee_ quivered and shook, but that was all.
The shot tore through the rigging, plowing along the deck of thecruiser, and disabling or killing a dozen men.
A broadside was fired, but the shots fell short of the _Lively Bee_.
It was as Tempest thought--she had only light guns.
One more shot was fired by the young lieutenant, and a hole was boredin the bow of the cruiser.
"We have taught her a lesson, captain, but we cannot fight her."
"No; what do you intend doing?"
"The fleet is near."
"I see; I think I understand."
Captain Vernon walked down to his cabin, leaving all command in thehands of his young officer.
"He has spunk, and I like him; he has grit and will pull through," hesaid, as he threw himself down on the seat.
Tempest lowered the Stars and Stripes, and the Britisher took it, as heintended, as a sign of surrender.
The cruiser now showed itself plainly, and its name, the _Belvidera_,was discernible through the glass.
"I thought she was French," said Tempest.
"What are you going to do, sir?" asked Scarron. "Surrender?"
"No, sir. I shall never surrender until it is to Death. Give orders;let the _Lively Bee_ show her heels to the Britisher, quick, or we mayget raked with shot."
On sped the privateer, and the cruiser followed quickly after her.
Then the _Lively Bee_ tacked, and the _Belvidera_ saw, when almost toolate, that she had been led nearly within gunshot of Commodore Rodgers'flagship, the _President_.
Both vessels began preparing for a test of skillful marksmanship, andfor that most interesting of all engagements--a naval duel.
On the _Belvidera_ the English sailors were busily engaged in shiftinglong eighteens and carronades to the stern, making a battery ofstern-chasers mounting four guns.
The _Lively Bee_ watched the preparations, and occasionally sent ashot tearing across the _Belvidera's_ deck, throwing the crew intoconfusion.